Disclaimer: *sigh* I don't have to say this anymore, I think…

Note: the subject is autism. Uhm right, about the quarrel between Eiji and Fuji, in this chapter you'll read the feelings of Fuji about that time. Next chapter there will be the thoughts of Eiji. I hope this chapter is longer than last one, I am bad at seeing the length difference, maybe because of my autism, actually I don't know…

Enjoy ^^

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Chapter 3: Surprise – Fuji's Feelings

The rumour spread quickly. Eiji had talent for tennis, but nobody had expected that he would easily win a difficult match.

The next training Eiji surprised everyone again to win from another third year. He was improving his tennis skills, but it seemed he had fun. The others didn't understand him. They were working hard on becoming a regular, but at the same time Eiji was having fun. He forgot the quarrel he had with Fuji. He enjoyed the warming up and especially the matches, which he always won.

After the training the regulars had a meeting. Most of them were talking about Eiji.

"That newbie really surprised me," Momoshiro Takeshi admitted. "I really didn't know he would be this good. He surely is amazing."

"It looks like he has played tennis before," Inui Sadaharu reacted. "The chance he really did is 95%."

"That's Inui-senpai for you," Echizen said.

"Then it would be interesting at the next ranking tournament," Momo said.

"Fshuu," Kaidoh hissed. "Is he able to play in the tournament?"

"Since he's a member, it wouldn't be a problem," Oishi reacted and looked at their buchou, Tezuka Kunimitsu, who nodded.

"In which class is he?" he asked.

"In mine," Fuji answered and everybody looked at him. "Since I have known him he is acting weird to me. The whole class thinks that."

"There must be a reason for it," Kawamura Takashi thought."

"I give him one chance," Tezuka suddenly said.

That surprised Fuji a little.

"It doesn't matter how someone acts," Oishi supplied. "Is that what you were thinking, Tezuka?"

Tezuka didn't answer, but the others knew enough. He had seen it too, that Eiji was happy to play tennis, but at the same time he was sat about being bullied and not having friends. He tried all the time, but for some reason nobody understood him at all. Fuji sighed. He knew everything was going to start from the beginning.

When I met Kikumaru, he was very shy and didn't say much. But his notes were always the best, that gave him the name 'red-haired genius'. He enjoys it a little. That's what I think. I was always the second best student of the class. But together, we aren't good. We even had quarrel. He was upset, I was upset. Why didn't it turn well? Why did he act strange when we discovered we aren't a team? It seems he wanted to give his best, but somehow it got worse. I don't get it. Is it my fault he didn't understand me? But the teacher said it is Kikumaru's fault. I don't know. I just wanted to help him when he didn't find something, but I think he got it wrong. I hope he will figure out what's going on.

"What a surprise," he mumbled.

The regulars talked about the coming tournament for a while and then they left.

Fuji walked slowly to his house. He understood Tezuka's decision, but he didn't like it to be in the same block as Eiji. He was really good, surprising for a red-haired boy known as a silent genius. Fuji wished Eiji talked a little more. Unperceived Fuji wanted to know more about his silent classmate.

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A few days later Tezuka had arranged the blocks. It was a little difficult, like every time there was a ranking tournament, but he managed to do it. He looked at the papers on his desk. This could be interesting, he thought and called it a night.

Ryuzaki-sensei wasn't surprised when she saw the arrangement, but she saw they could lose the vice-captain. Good luck, Kikumaru Eiji, she thought and looked at the bright sky.

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Just like I said, next chapter will be about Eiji. Luckily there are people who like others as they are, like Oishi. He is always patient, I like him because he is always like that.

Well, next chapter is coming up!

Please review!

~Rie-chan~